Photo By: Sarah Henry

After many months of eager anticipation, Berkeley favorite Gioia Pizzeria (2240 Polk Street) has arrived in San Francisco. And the iteration on this side of the Bay includes several notable additions that make it well worth the wait.

Most importantly, owners Will and Karen Gioia have added an impressive collection of beer and wine to their delicious SF menu. In addition to a rotating list of 5 Italian reds and 5 whites, the bar also features 6 satiating local microbrews. If you make your way over to the beautiful new Polk Street digs, you’ll be able to indulge in several limited edition beers from right across the Bay in Oakland: Linden Street Brewery’s exquisite Burning Oak Black Lager–roasted to perfection to taste slightly sweet with a very light body. Also on tap is Dying Vine’s Hop Candi, an English-style IPA with tender tones of rye and citrus.

From deeper in the Bay Area you can enjoy some fermented infectiousness from Heretic Brewing Company, based out of Pittsburg–not the one in Pennsylvania. This imaginative producer implores its drinkers to “be a heretic, don’t drink ordinary beer.” And their suds are anything but pedestrian. Evil Twin is an unusual blood-red ale with a perfect ratio of malt to hops, neither too sweet nor too bitter. If you’re in the Bay Area, be on the look out for their special releases, including Torment–a Belgian-style dark ale aged in French oak barrels that boasts a whopping 12% ABV.

The husband and wife team behind the eponymous restaurant received their culinary pedigree at Chez Panisse, so clearly you’re in for a culinary experience to accompany these inspired libations. The quality of ingredients and thoughtfulness of preparation really shines through in the dining experience at this new Russian Hill standout. When tasty East Coast-style pizza meets great West Coast-style microbrews its the best of both worlds!

NorCal Beer Blog